U.S. Department of Energy provides special grant to Stevens Institute of Technology

HOBOKEN, N.J. – The U. S. Department of Energy through its Nevada Operations Office announced yesterday that it will support research on new sensor technologies being developed at Stevens Institute of Technology for the detection of various types of gases. Funds in the amount of $150,000 have been dedicated toward the first year of this three-year project Stevens has planned, in conjunction with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The research will support the efforts of the Cooperative Monitoring Program of the Department of Energy.

"We proposed a collaborative research program to develop chemically selective, highly sensitive, portable gas sensors based on tunable semiconductor laser absorption spectroscopy," says Dr. Ed Whittaker, Stevens Professor of physics and engineering physics, and principal investigator of the project. "Both labs will conduct experimental investigations using the recently invented quantum cascade laser."

Bell Laboratories (Lucent Technologies) manufactures this special laser, which is not readily available on the market. Among its prominent features, the quantum cascade laser may be used at near room temperature, making it more convenient than standard lasers, generally requiring sub-zero temperature conditions.

The Department of Energy’s Cooperative Monitoring Program concerns itself, among other things, with the prevention of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

"Using this laser, we will work to develop a sensor to ‘sniff’ chemicals in minute parts-per-billion concentrations in the air," adds Whittaker. "Turning this technology into relatively inexpensive and compact units, the CMP, during its inspections, will be able to detect various gases based on their interaction with the laser light."

Stevens Institute of Technology will use the grant money to support faculty research efforts, post-doctoral research assistants, graduate students, equipment and supplies.

Established in 1870, Stevens offers baccalaureate, master and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, as well as a baccalaureate in the humanities and liberal arts. The university has a total enrollment of more than 1,500 undergraduates and 2,200 graduate students.

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Founded in 1870 and celebrating 140 Years of Innovation, Stevens Institute of Technology, The Innovation University TM , lives at the intersection of industry, academics and research.  The University's students, faculty and partners leverage their collective real-world experience and culture of innovation, research and entrepreneurship to confront global challenges in engineering, science, systems and technology management.

Based in Hoboken, N.J. and with a location in Washington, D.C., Stevens offers baccalaureate, master’s, certificates and doctoral degrees in engineering, the sciences and management, in addition to baccalaureate degrees in business and liberal arts.  Stevens has been recognized by both the US Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security as a National Center of Excellence in the areas of systems engineering and port security research. The University has a total enrollment of more than 2,200 undergraduate and 3,700 graduate students with almost 450 faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America as well as strategic partnerships with industry leaders, governments and other universities around the world.  Additional information may be obtained at www.stevens.edu and www.stevens.edu/press.